Issue 7

Speaker's Note

For most of the year, I spend my weekdays at the Capitol, developing and advocating for legislation that benefits the people of Southeast Los Angeles.

This year, the Assembly passed hundreds of bills to make California a better place to live. We expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit to financially benefit working families, implemented critical rent control, invested a record amount of funding in education, developed stronger standards for police use of force, and much, much more.

Now, with the 2019 legislative session over, I can spend the next few months at home in the district.

That’s what makes October a special time for me. Being in the Southeast full-time, I get to meet with community members, who help me identify our top legislative priorities for next year. They remind me why I’m in Sacramento in the first place.

Our cities face challenges. And yet, the community around me reminds me every day just how much we have to offer.

We have thriving local businesses and restaurants that help boost the economy. Our cities are built on rich cultural and agricultural histories. If you came to the second-annual SELA Arts Festival in July, you know we have an incredible network of artists who are proving to the world just how beautiful Southeast LA can be.

In this edition of the R Guide, we’ll introduce you to some of the people, places, and local businesses that make our district a wonderful place to call home.

Things to Do in AD63

If you’re looking for an insider’s look into the world of professional boxing, look no further than the Maywood Boxing Club. Located on East 56 Street, this unassuming gym regularly hosts professional boxers, including some world champions. Stop by the gym to watch these big-name boxers honing their skills before the next big fight. It’s not just for professionals: amateur boxers are always welcome.

Parents with very young children will want to make a beeline for Camp Little Bear Park in Bell. Designed exclusively for preschool-age kids, this park offers multiple special amenities, including a miniature golf course, a soccer field designed for small children, a splash pad, climbing boulders and a small basketball court. The city also offers multiple classes, including ballet, that are geared toward young kids.

Hop on your bike and take a ride on the L.A. River Bike Path! Cudahy River Park provides safe access to the lower half of the trail that winds about 15 miles down to Long Beach. After your ride, spend some time in the park, where you can learn about California’s wildlife, and how the park helps clean runoff water before it flows back into the river.

Gather the science fans in your life for a trip to the Seaborg House. Located right next to City Hall, this charming white bungalow was the childhood home of Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, who grew up in South Gate. He was a Nobel Prize-winning chemist, discoverer of ten elements (including plutonium, critically important in nuclear science), scientific advisor to ten U.S. presidents, Chairman of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, and more. There’s even an element named after him: Seaborgium!

Take a stroll through Plaza Mexico in Lynwood, and you may feel you’ve been transported to a traditional Mexican city. The multi-cultural center, which features performance spaces, shopping, and dining, is designed after the ancient Mexican city Monte Alban. Elaborately-designed facades and re-creations of traditional Mexican artwork adorn the Plaza.

Tucked between rows of palm trees on Paramount Boulevard is a rare remnant of Paramount’s agricultural history. The Hay Tree, standing 50 feet tall and more than 130 years old, was the epicenter of the Los Angeles county hay industry in the first half of the 20th century. Every morning, beneath the branches of the camphor tree, the price of hay was set for merchants and farmers throughout the world. The Hay Tree was named a California State Historic landmark in 2003.

Popular Houghton Skate Park, inside the larger Houghton Park, is free and available for both skateboarders and inline skaters. This park draws athletes from across the Los Angeles area. They come for the park’s deep bowls, which even feature art by local artists. Stop by Houghton Park to watch awesome athletes in action, or bring your own board or skates to try it yourself. Just remember to bring a helmet!

It’s the smallest city in Los Angeles County, and it has the parks to match! All three parks within the city limits of Hawaiian Gardens are pocket parks, meaning they measure less than one acre. Don’t be fooled- these manage to squeeze big fun into small spaces. Pack a picnic lunch for a trip to Pioneer Park, measuring a minuscule .22 acres. Next, head to Clarkdale Park (.73 acres) for some pick-up basketball, before cooling off in the Lee Ware Park (.54 acres) swimming pool.